Daily Devotion: Monday, September 15, 2014

 DEVOTION:  How then can a man be righteous before God?  How can one born of a woman be pure?  If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less man, who is but a maggot- a son of man, who is only a worm?  Job 25:6
 
When Bildad spoke to Job is wasn't necessarily to console him.  These words would cut Job to the heart.  And it probably wasn't the best time to say something like this.  As Job points out sarcastically in the next verse "How you have helped the powerless." 
 
Job had just seen his whole family get wiped off the face of the earth and all his property destroyed.  He knew that he wasn't perfect.  He knew that he had troubles.  There was no need to tell him that. 
 
Sometimes it is good to tell someone that he is not perfect.  It is good to bring the law to bear on someone's life who seems to be living life without the law.  It is good to do what you can to stop sin and cause repentance in a person's life.  If we don't there is danger of falling away from faith all together. 
 
When a person is in the pit of despair over the guilt of his sin or because of the consequences of sin in the world, as is the case with Job, it is the GOSPEL, the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection for him that he needs to hear.  The key is that both the law and the gospel need to be applied with love.  If a person knows that you love him, then telling him that what he is doing, thinking, or saying is wrong will be received differently than it will be from someone that person doesn't know or someone who knows that you don't care about him.  
 
Once a person is convicted of his sin it is of utmost importance that he is not left there in his sin.  He needs to be given the gospel.  Jesus never left anyone who was truly convicted of sin in his sin.  He always gave that person his forgiveness.  I cannot stress enough how important that true and real forgiveness is to a person in the depths of despair.   Even if you want that person to suffer or hurt and to pay for what he did, you cannot keep Christ's forgiveness from him.  It is not your to withhold!  It is yours to give freely!
 
Is there anyone in your life who desperately needs to hear the good news of God's grace?  I urge to be God's mouthpiece today.  Give God's grace to those who need it?  Share the gospel with those in deep distress over their sins!  Give relief to the distressed and sorrowful!  Do unto others as you would have them do to you!
 
Let us pray:  Lord God help me to be a generous giver of your gospel to all who need it today regardless of my feelings for them.  Amen. 
 



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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:    What good things happened to Job at the end of Job's life? He got back twice as much as he had before and a new family was given to him in his old age. 
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What was special about Job's daughters at the end of his life?
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CALENDAR:
Mon- 7 and 8 grade Confirmation 5-6:15
Tues- Qilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Council meeting 7pm
Wed- Ladies Aid noon; Choir 7pm; Newsletter deadline
Fri- Bible Study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Bible Study 4; Worship 5
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11; Elder's meeting noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Gus Klaustermeier  11- Devin Miller
Altar guild- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean Up-- Terry McKenzie
Greeters- 8:30- John Fahrni; 11- Hendershots
Communion Assistants- Sat-  Rich Boeger; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Charlie Figura
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcai Sevier; 8:30- Jacob Nagel;  11am- Lynn Figura
8:30 Ushers- George Hoelscher, Gary Hoelscher, Ben HOelscher, Brent Davis
Projectors- Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Panhorst; 11- Zack Hoelscher
Pianists/organists Sat- Tim Sherman;  Sun- Melissa Pedersen  11am- Doug Walters
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NEWS:

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR THE REGULAR PRICE ON THE MEN'S RETREAT 
MEN'S RETREAT COMING UP Friday, Sept. 26- Sunday Sept. 28 AT MARK TWAIN LAKE!!

 

$45 For lodging and all meals!!!  Can't beat it!  Bring your ear plugs though. 

 

You can bring your own tent or camper!  Electricity is  available for campers, but bring a long extension cord. 

 

You have your choice of:

1. Golfing in the golf outing  $30 extra

2. Fishing-- Bring your own boat if you want or tag along with someone else

3. Trap shooting-- bring your own gun.

4. Hiking-- guided hikes or self tours are available

5. Napping-  get caught up on your sleep and just enjoy the camp

 

Go to t3mensretreat.org for all the info you will need and to sign up!  It would be wonderful to get a big group of guys from St. John's to go!  I never miss it.

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Kelsey updates our website weekly!  Check it out!!  www.stjohnwarrenton.org

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PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)

For Mary Aubuchon's sister, MARCILLE FORD, who is gravely ill and may be nearing the end of her life.

 

For KADELYN HUSTER as she undergoes surgery this morning.

 

For NORMAN TEMME, brother of Harold Temme and Lois Frick who was put on hospice last week and is nearing the end of his days.

 

For the family, friends, and church family of PASTOR BENKE from Jefferson Hills, who was killed in a car accident Friday.

 

For LIL WINTER as she is recovering from pneumonia.

 

For MARY STEMLER as she fell and suffered several cracked ribs.

 

For thanksgiving for successful surgery for LESLIE HOFFMAN who is recovering well from double knee replacement surgery.

 

For thanksgiving for PETE FRENZIA who is recovering well at home from knee replacement surgery.

 

For thanksgiving for MARILYN FOSTER'S SISTER, MARCIE,  who is recovering from surgery. They removed the mass and she is recovering well and walking without pain.  

 

For thanksgiving for MIM DUNN, as she is beginning to walk again with assistance.

 

For BILL WOOLF as he recovers from a broken ankle.  He is working with it. 

 

For ED KOHRS as he will have surgery to repair his eye soon.

For FRANCES LAMKIN, Sandra Perricone's aunt, who is dealing with many health issues.

 

For our NATION'S MILITARY LEADERS AND SOLDIERS as they figure out what to do about the imminent threats from ISIS.

 

For HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA, who are being persecuted to the point of death for their faith. 

 

For NANCY SPINIOLAS as she recovers from a car accident and a fall, and now also surgery to remove some skin cancer from near her eye.